Adventure Ausrama Blog

Arriving Europeans plundered Australia for human bones to show in their museums. They took skeletal remains of thousands of Aboriginals. Not surprising the descendants of the deceased Australians want to bury them in this country. Because most "specimens" were taken over recent centuries, the DNA in them is still detectable. Tests are being done to compare DNA from bones with Aboriginals living today in order to find matches. The work is being done by Griffith University in Queensland. Though only a few matchups have been done in the world - remains were returned to North American Indians using the method - native people are interested in doing it. Tapij Wales an elder of the Thanynakwith people in Cape York requested tests be done. The main problem is that many claiming Aboriginality today have a mix of European and Aboriginal genes. Moreover, many natives were removed by European settlers to other regions. The arrival of new settlers was a violent period in Australia...

In the 1930s Australian sugar cane was being destroyed by the grey-backed cane beetle and the French beetle. They are both native to Australia. Scientists looked abroad for a solution. They made the biggest mistake in Australia's history. Cane toads were brought in from Hawaii in 1935. They bred impressively in captivity: this should have been a warning sign. Beetles in Hawaii are not the same as Australian types. Ignoring potential danger 102 young toads were released In Innisfall, Cairns and Gordonvale. Entomologist, Walter Froggatt announced that there would be a disaster - he was right. Their population exploded across the country. Cane toads did not eat the beetles damaging sugar cane. They devoured native insects, other amphibians and reptiles. Furthermore, creatures that eat them die because they are poisonous. Fortunately, there has been a breakthrough that could see the end to the dangerous pest. Their DNA has been sequenced. Three viruses have been identified t...

Genetic testing should not be used for herpes, Alzheimer's or Coeliac disease. It seems that genetic testing is not all good for health problems. MedicineWise, a body of doctors and patients, has released an advisory list for scientists. DNA testing should no be used for coeliac disease, nor for herpes or Alzheimer's. Identifying a "causative" gene only indicates a probability. Indeed, screening for herpes in genetic testing for sexually transmitted disease is a misuse of resources.  Millions of dollars of government funding is wasted every year. A DNA finding is not a black and white issue. Gene determination is not 100 per cent. Many people with a "faulty" gene do live without ever getting the so called predetermined disease. Furthermore, patients can be falsely reassured by a DNA test. ◆ Chemistry by Ty Buchanan   ◆                Australian Blog   ★   Adventure Australia . . . . . . . . ...

The sex of central bearded dragon hatchlings is determined by the prevailing temperature during incubation. Some females carry male genes and behave like males. They are more confident and active than other females. The "tomboys" also have more offspring. Australian central bearded dragon Of great interest is how genetic and climatic factors affect gender. In lab test incubation, if the temperature was over 32 degrees females with male chromosomes hatched as females. Below 32 degrees the dragon expressed its genetic disposition and hatched as males. High temperature females were larger than males which is normal for the species. It appears that male type behaviors of these females is genetically determined. Some of the females were even bolder than normal males. Male chromosomes affect the brain which is driven to express male traits. Only one other animal has the feature of environmental and genetic factors determining sex - the skink. Other animal...

Your general outlook of is genetically linked, Whether you suffer from depression or are happy. Depression can be an inherited trait. Research has shown this to be the case, so could a happy personality also be genetic? Of course, it will have not effect on creativity. Many high achievers through history has suffered from dark periods in their lives. It could be said that perpetually happy people have nothing to strive for and are less likely to leave their mark, unless they have careers as comedians. Happy people do seem to have certain genes, however. Three gene variants are linked to a happy outlook, while two are causative factors for depression. A whopping 11 variants are responsible for neuroticism. If you are a pain in the .... to everyone else it could be those dozen or so genes - there is bound to be another gene in there somewhere. The above findings were identified in a major study involving 3,000 participants. It was concluded that genetic causation was weak. ...

Genetics: Scientists work on whales instead of cattle. Work on cattle genetics has shown the way to determine the sex of whales using a sample taken from blow holes. Specimens are composed of water and mucous membrane material.  They are collected from the sea by people in dingies, canoes and kayaks. The process involves scooping with a six-metre long carbon-fibre pole. A team of researchers has enjoyed the chance to get away from working with cattle. They have also done a genetic study of koalas. Improving cattle and meat are their priorities, however.  A few hundred samples are to be taken.  This compares to a half a million already collected from cattle. While blow hole samples are used for whales, hair is taken from cattle. Researchers have identified favourable traits for cattle from DNA. The real problem is getting these into cattle. Farmers are the ones who breed animals, not researchers. It is no surprise to find the more direct work on whales a welcom...

In the study of humans migration, genomics and genetics really mean the same thing. Genetics is applied by genomics which analyses the structure of genomes. As well as migration much light has been shed on the origin of certain diseases. Alcoholism has evolved in man because it was useful as a curative agent. It first occurred naturally from stored grain. Beer jugs were found with Stone Age people. Because it came from collected grains, alcohol and bread probably came into human culture at the same time, Alcoholism is a side effect of evolution. Benefits for Man outweighed this issue and anyway it could have started commerce via trade in beverages. Having a particular gene predisposes groups of humans to sickle cell disease. It was said to be a disease of black gene pools. However, white people can develop the condition if they have the gene.  There is a predisposition gene for type 2 diabetes, though this malady can be caused by diet and taking medications over a Long pe...

Do you want to see natural selection at work? Oddly it isn't really natural. Humans have been selecting for the most suitable domesticated animals for thousands of years. Farm animals today are much different from the wild type we first caught. While chickens are tagged for their fearfulness, they are not scared of people at all. Sure they get out of your way, but that is about it. Six gene variants are functioning in domestic chickens. These do not operate in their wild relative the red junglefowl. Consequently, the fowl is jumpy and flighty when put in farm conditions. Cows in the slaughter yard know what is going to happen. Nonetheless, they do not scramble to get out. However, horses do not fit this pattern. They can be taken from the wild, broken in, then spend the rest of lives with people. Something done by God perhaps? I don't think so. ◆ Genetics by Ty Buchanan   ◆ Adventure Australia Funny Animal Photos Funny Weird Things Articles News...

The hope of genetic treatment may be scuttled as it is becoming known that we have good and bad genes but their behavior depends on whether they are turned on or off. Apparently this changes throughout the day let alone over the years. A new endeavor to study diabetes and diet could also be a waste of time. Even sufferers know that diabetes type 2 is caused by eating the wrong food. However, few people will change their lifestyle. A genetic predisposition could add to this. Yet, with the number of medications taken today the link between long term prescription use, genetics and food is a hard nut to crack. Including a third factor makes understanding the issue much more difficult. As always, research will be done on mice for the genetic/food duo. Unfortunately, mice may be mammals, but they ain't human. Finding a cure for diabetes 2 is way down the track. Scientists will be messing around in the lab collecting data on mice for at least 10 years. ◆ Genetics ...

The reason why people feel that they were born in the wrong body in regard to being male or female is motivational. It can be genetic or cultural in nature. It is complicated. Like homosexuality there could be social reasons why this path is chosen. It could be enculturation as a child. On the other hand, individuals just have the feeling that behaving in such a way is natural for them. Scientists have found that some people have an identification problem due to a genetic "condition". It is unfortunate that it has been called a disorder. An emotive argument is not needed. It has been given a name: craniosynostosis. The FGFR2 gene is mutated and causes sex reversal in the XY chromosomes. About two per cent of the general population is born with a gender issue. This can have physical consequences such as endocrine complications, infertility or gonadal cancer. A baby born this way faces multiple surgeries. It should be noted, however, that people with a ge...